Unit 1: Microscopy
Type of Scope Magnification Range Imaging System Types of Specimens
Compound light 40x, 100x, 400x, A compound light Plant, Animal, Protist,
microscope microscope has two Bacteria, or Fungi
1000x or 2,000x lens systems, the cells
objective lens and Nucleus, Cell Wall,
the eyepieces, which Cell Membrane,
work together with Chloroplast
light to magnify a High Magnification,
sample or specimen. but lower resolution
A light microscope
gathers light from the
small area in which a
sample sits on the
stage. When this light
is passed through the
sample, it creates an
image.
Stereoscopic 7x to 30 x Reflected light from
(Dissecting) Scope specimen to ocular
Can be up to 40x lenses; glass lenses
used to focus.
Transmission Electron up to 1,000,000 Electrons from Surface of small
Microscope tungsten sent insects and other
through animals, pollen
thin slices of heavy- grains, plant parts.
metal-stained tissues High Magnification
or cells, imaged on and Resolution.
phosphorescent
screen or electron Must be dead
detector. Magnets
used to focus.
Scanning Electron 10x to 500,000x Electrons from Inside cells in great
Microscope tungsten reflected off detail, including
heavy-metal coated inside cell organelles
surfaces. Magnetic with details. High
“lenses” used to Magnification and
focus. Resolution.
Must be dead
, Field of View - the area you can see under each objective is called the “Field of View” – this
becomes smaller with higher magnifications.
The purpose of staining a microscope/specimen slide include to enable better visualization of
cells and cell parts under the microscope.
A Methylene Blue Staining visualizes proteins. We use methylene blue to stain because it helps
make cells show up against their background, where their shape can help you determine what
they are (their morphology)
Discussion HW Questions
1. Why is a compound microscope called compound?
a. A compound microscope is called compound because the microscope contains
two magnifying lenses which are known as the objective lens and the ocular lens.
2. Which objective lens should be in place (over the stage) at the beginning and end of
using the microscope? Why?
a. The objective lens that should be in place over the stage at the beginning and
end of using the microscope is the 4x objective lens. The 4x objective lens should
be in place at the beginning and end of using the microscope because this will
protect the higher magnification lenses from being damaged by getting too close
to the stage or any other external objects.
3. What are the ocular lenses on a microscope?
a. The ocular lenses on a microscope are the eyepieces which are low power lenses.
Typically, on a compound microscope, the ocular lens magnification is 10x.
4. A total magnification of 100X using an ocular lens of 10X requires the use of which
objective lens?
a. A total magnification of 100X using an ocular lens of 10X requires the use of the
10X objective lens.
5. What is the difference between eukaryotic and prokaryotic organisms?
a. The difference between eukaryotic and prokaryotic organisms include that
prokaryotic organisms are single celled organisms in which do not have genetic
material that are contained in a nucleus with a membrane, and they do not
contain specialized cell organelles. Eukaryotic organisms on the other hand are
both single celled and multicellular organisms which do have genetic material
that are contained in a distinct nucleus with a membrane, and they do contain
specialized cell organelles.
6. Which adjustment knob is used during high power? Why?
a. The adjustment knob that is used during high power is the fine focus knob. The
fine focus knob is used during high power because the microscopes used during
lab were parfocal which means that the objective lenses can be changed with
minimal refocusing, especially when the microscope was focused under low
power.
7. What is the final item placed on a wet mount before viewing with a light microscope?
Type of Scope Magnification Range Imaging System Types of Specimens
Compound light 40x, 100x, 400x, A compound light Plant, Animal, Protist,
microscope microscope has two Bacteria, or Fungi
1000x or 2,000x lens systems, the cells
objective lens and Nucleus, Cell Wall,
the eyepieces, which Cell Membrane,
work together with Chloroplast
light to magnify a High Magnification,
sample or specimen. but lower resolution
A light microscope
gathers light from the
small area in which a
sample sits on the
stage. When this light
is passed through the
sample, it creates an
image.
Stereoscopic 7x to 30 x Reflected light from
(Dissecting) Scope specimen to ocular
Can be up to 40x lenses; glass lenses
used to focus.
Transmission Electron up to 1,000,000 Electrons from Surface of small
Microscope tungsten sent insects and other
through animals, pollen
thin slices of heavy- grains, plant parts.
metal-stained tissues High Magnification
or cells, imaged on and Resolution.
phosphorescent
screen or electron Must be dead
detector. Magnets
used to focus.
Scanning Electron 10x to 500,000x Electrons from Inside cells in great
Microscope tungsten reflected off detail, including
heavy-metal coated inside cell organelles
surfaces. Magnetic with details. High
“lenses” used to Magnification and
focus. Resolution.
Must be dead
, Field of View - the area you can see under each objective is called the “Field of View” – this
becomes smaller with higher magnifications.
The purpose of staining a microscope/specimen slide include to enable better visualization of
cells and cell parts under the microscope.
A Methylene Blue Staining visualizes proteins. We use methylene blue to stain because it helps
make cells show up against their background, where their shape can help you determine what
they are (their morphology)
Discussion HW Questions
1. Why is a compound microscope called compound?
a. A compound microscope is called compound because the microscope contains
two magnifying lenses which are known as the objective lens and the ocular lens.
2. Which objective lens should be in place (over the stage) at the beginning and end of
using the microscope? Why?
a. The objective lens that should be in place over the stage at the beginning and
end of using the microscope is the 4x objective lens. The 4x objective lens should
be in place at the beginning and end of using the microscope because this will
protect the higher magnification lenses from being damaged by getting too close
to the stage or any other external objects.
3. What are the ocular lenses on a microscope?
a. The ocular lenses on a microscope are the eyepieces which are low power lenses.
Typically, on a compound microscope, the ocular lens magnification is 10x.
4. A total magnification of 100X using an ocular lens of 10X requires the use of which
objective lens?
a. A total magnification of 100X using an ocular lens of 10X requires the use of the
10X objective lens.
5. What is the difference between eukaryotic and prokaryotic organisms?
a. The difference between eukaryotic and prokaryotic organisms include that
prokaryotic organisms are single celled organisms in which do not have genetic
material that are contained in a nucleus with a membrane, and they do not
contain specialized cell organelles. Eukaryotic organisms on the other hand are
both single celled and multicellular organisms which do have genetic material
that are contained in a distinct nucleus with a membrane, and they do contain
specialized cell organelles.
6. Which adjustment knob is used during high power? Why?
a. The adjustment knob that is used during high power is the fine focus knob. The
fine focus knob is used during high power because the microscopes used during
lab were parfocal which means that the objective lenses can be changed with
minimal refocusing, especially when the microscope was focused under low
power.
7. What is the final item placed on a wet mount before viewing with a light microscope?
